What was your first Disney Deluxe Resort? And moderate and value?

[Tiffany]

The first moderate I stayed in was CBR back in 1991.

The first value resort I stayed in was All Star Sports back in 1994.

The first deluxe was the YC back in 1998.

 

[Connor&Cody'sMom]

1st (and only) Deluxe: AKL. We loved everything about this resort. My DS would have spent the entire trip on the balcony watching animals if I'd let him. We loved Boma's breakfast buffet. We planned on eating some breakfasts at Mara, but after one breakfast at Boma I made PS for breakfast there the rest of the week. DS's loved the arcade and the pool, and the animals..... :

1st (and only) Value: ASMovies. DS's were younger, so this was perfect for their first visit. They loved the pool, and the Toy Story characters. They would run ahead of us every morning to greet the huge Rex in the courtyard.

Probably will do deluxes from now on. They're just nicer, and have more room for our growing boys.

 

[amy1976]

My first deluxe was when I went with my parents, we stayed at the Polynesian. From what I remember of it the place was great.

My first deluxe as an adult was our honeymoon at GF. I loved this hotel and it is by far my favorite. I felt like a queen while I stayed there. The convenience of the monorail and boats made everything all that much better.

I have not stayed at moderate or value yet.

We stayed at the Grovesnor in DTD and were not that found of it. I felt it lacked that "Disney feel".

 

[All Aboard]

First Deluxe was the Contemporary in 1977. Second was the Polynesian a year later.

As an adult (barely), my first on-site experience came in 1988, (spending more money than I had and) staying at the newly opened Caribbean Beach Resort.

After a lengthy drought (years of off-site lodging), I stayed at DxL and PO in 2000 and our first Value experience came at All Star Sports later that year. My first Deluxe stay with my family came at Animal Kindom Lodge in 2001. Since 2000, we've stayed at every WDW resort except Saratoga Springs and the Boardwalk. Later this year, we are staying at the Boardwalk, which will leave us with just one to complete the circuit.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Deluxe-AKL, absolutely blew me away. Love it!! May 2003

Moderate-CBR, love the tropical theming and the music. Nov. 2001

Value-All Star Music, it was nice and my 1st WDW onsite experience. Nov. 1995

 

[marcyinPA]

We've never stayed in a Deluxe.

Our first Moderate was POR. Loved it.

We also stayed at OKW in a studio, and FW cabins. Both were great!

Never done a value either!

 

[kewlgrl127]

Contemporary Resort Tower Room~ This was my first ever trip to Disney in 1991, when i was 7 years old. Although I loved the hotel at the time my favorite Deluxe is definitly the Beach Club. The other ones I've stayed at are: Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Yacht Club and Wilderness Lodge.

Port Orleans French Quarter~ My first stay at a moderate was a year and a half ago. I really liked this hotel. The grounds were gorgeous. I also stayed at Riverside and I liked it but FQ is my fave.

I only stayed in a value once, on an 8th grade field trip. We stayed at ASMu. I didnt really love it. On my trip next week I'm staying at Pop Century and am so excited! It looks like such a fun resort!

 

[TDC Nala]

deluxe - Contemporary, 1992

moderate - Coronado Springs, 2000

value - All Star Sports, 1995

Home Away From Home - Boardwalk, 2002

 

[robinb]

My first resorts:

Value: All Star Music in 1997.
It was my very first on-site resort. I loved the Disney Magic. I hated the resort. I hated that everything was so spread out and I hated the pool. I have not been back since, but we were hooked on Disney. We bought into DVC 2 months later. It's not a "Value" resort thing. I have been to All Star Sports and POP and love them both.

Moderate:
Caribbean Beach Resort in 2001.
We had a good building, only a few away from the OPR. The room was nice and I liked the whole resort. I have not been back since we don't stay at moderates very often and I want to try them all. However, I would return as long as I paid for a premium room near OPR. I would hate to be too far from the main pool and food court.

Deluxe:
Contemporary Resort in 2002
Loved it, loved it, loved it! I would go back in a heartbeat, even in the Garden View room that we had. We were put there when Shades of Green was being re-done and my mom is a Navy window (my Dad died while in the Navy). The $79 per night was icing on the cake, but I would pay more. I love being able to walk to the MK, I love the lounge and the restaurants, I love the monorail. {sigh}

Home Away From Home:
Old Key West in 1997.
My first DVC "home". We loved having a huge 1 bedroom overlooking the golf course. It was so nice! We have been back many times since, but have recently "upgraded" to sharing a Grand Villa with friends over NYE. That Grand Villa is bigger than either one of our houses!

 

[Cindy B]

First Value-- All Star Sports 1999 (not bad and the kids were so excited) Our favorite value is POP though. We went there this past November

Deluxe-- Wilderness. This is our only deluxe, so I can't compare it to anything else

Moderate-- havent' been to one yet, but am planning to try Coronado this summer

 

[jgalecpa]

First Deluxe:

The "Grand" Floridian.

We took are kids to WDW in summer 1992 for the first time, Had one DD 3 and one DD 9 months.

This was a big reward to the family after yet another stressfilled, hectic and successful tax season.

Since DW's had recently moved to Atlanta, we drove from DC to Atlanta. Atlanta stay was not good. Her brother was going through some tough times and it was just not good.

Huge vacation did not start well.

Drove from ATL to WDW. Stifling heat in the summer.

Knew we were in for something special the moment we came around the bend and saw the Grand.

Beautiful and serene, she sat like a queen in a courtyar.

We pulled up to the front, I was immediately greeted by "Jimmy", and was made to feel at home.

Than, While DW was getting the kids out, etc I stepped into the lobby.

OMG!

Immediately I was greeted by a woman in Victoria garb, carrying a parasol and a tray of Lemonade.

I rushed back out side and said to DW "This is US!"

We had a castle view, the place was gorgeous, we discovered Narcoosies.

Then, to make it even more special, one day as we are waiting at the MK for the little boat to bring us back to the GF, our youngest daughter took her first steps!!!!

We have since been back a number of times.


Second Deluxe:

In 1999 when the GF was undergoing renovations, we stayed at the Poly. It was nice, but it was not the Grand.

We went to visit the Grand and felt right at home again.


We are going back in December (12/20 - 12/23) to see the Grand at Xmas for the first time.

Some friends, who know the cost of the GF, wonder how you can pay that much for one hotel.

If you've stayed at the Grand, you know it's worth it.

Jim

PS I've been fortunate enough to stay at other so-called four star hotels through the world.

None comes close to the Grand

 

[Liz]

My first deluxe was the Contemporary with my mom back in 1976 or '77. I think we paid about $65 a night! We later stayed at the Poly and actually liked that better. Have also stayed at the Dolphin and its fabulous!!

First moderate was PORS. Didn't like our room location (facing parking lot). Overall it was okay but I'm not anxious to go back. On another trip we stayed at CS and fell in love with it!

First and only stay at a value was ASMovies and we loved that too! In less than a month we're trying Pop and hope to have a great experience there.

 

[eeyore0062]

Our first Deluxe resort was Wilderness Lodge. Liked the ambience and pool, but wasn't thrilled with the room... too small and cramped, not to mention dark.

Our first experience at a Moderate was also our 1st experience onsite. It was a Dixie Landings in 1993. We loved it so much, we have stayed there several times since, before branching out to other resorts.

So far, our only experience with a value has been AS-Mo. Very cute, but didn't like the bus transportation, and be warned... take ear plugs or you will be hearing the toilets flush all night all around you.

 

[cranbiz]

First Deluxe : Animal Kingdom Lodge
This is our first and only deluxe, and we would go back in a heartbeat. The themeing, BOMA and JIKO, the activities and the animals. We did not feel cramped in our rooms, we just loved having coffee on the balcony and watching the savannah before going to the parks.

First Moderate : Carribean Beach Resort
Well, not our first until June, but looking forward to it. Is is my DB and DSIL's most favorite resort, I'm sure it will be ours. DW is just looking forward to sitting on the beach.

First Value : All Star Music
OK, noisy but acceptable. I would go back IF it was the only way to stay onsite, but may try POP sometime.

Lately we stay in our Florida house and drive the 45 minutes. DW and I have AP's so that spending a couple of hours and then a meal works for us.

In June, we are staying at the house, except for a couple of days at our annaversary, which will be at CBR.

 

[mking624]

First Deluxe: Grand Floridian...1989. I remember exactly what the room looks like...but not the rest of the resort. I was only 8 at the time...went with my aunt & uncle.

First Moderate: Caribbean Beach Resort...2000. My husband and I stayed there for our honeymoon. We both loved it, but since it rained all day every day during our stay, we want to go back so we can actually enjoy it.

First Value: All Star Movies...2003. Though it wasn't *horrible*, I'd prefer not to stay there again. We're trying Pop this year to see how similar/different it is.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks for sharing your experiences on your first stays. I enjoyed every post! I would like to hear some more if there are any... Thanks!

 

[Tiger Fan]

Our first deluxe was The Yacht Club and we absolutely loved it! We had a view of the wedding gazebo and enjoyed coming back each afternoon to a fun wedding, characters and all! The pool at this resort is also one of our very favorites!

Our first moderate was POFQ and we also found this to be a great resort. I'm not sure if I'd try other moderates as we loved this one so much. We've tried other deluxes and values, but just can't bring ourselves to try another moderate.

Our first value was All Star Sports and we liked it, but found we liked All Star Movies just a bit better. We had great room locations both times, but being such huge Toy Story fans, we just got silly each day waking up in Andy's Room!!

Great thread!
Lisa
Tiger Fan